Well, don’t we all look a bit silly now? After wide reporting that British tabloid ‘The Sun’ had discontinued its topless ‘Page 3 models’, the paper reintroduced the controversial feature on Thursday after having omitted it for just three days.

It now appears that the Murdoch-owned tabloid has pulled off a media stunt to increase readership and interest in its publication. Despite the paper neither confirming nor denying the end of the feature, it was widely reported by media outlets. On its front page, Thursday’s edition trailed with the pun “we’ve had a mammary lapse”.

Keeley Hazell
Keeley Hazell established herself with the help of 'The Sun's 'Page 3' feature

On page 3 itself, the model is seen winking at the camera, with the words "clarifications and corrections" above it. Underneath, a caption reads: "Further to recent reports in all other media outlets, we would like to clarify that this is Page 3 and this is a picture of Nicole, 22, from Bournemouth.”

Finally, it delivered a put-down to the media outlets that had mocked and crowed at its demise. "We would like to apologise on behalf of the print and broadcast journalists who have spent the last two days talking and writing about us.”

On Monday, the feature seemed to have been pulled after 44 years of appearing on its third page. It had been criticised for many years on the ground of being sexist and outdated, but an online campaign in 2012 called ‘No More Page 3’ looked to have finally achieved its objectives, having attracted support from MPs, activist groups and nearly a quarter of a million signatories to a petition calling for its end.

So, after having pulled a prank on most of the journalistic world, do you think ‘Page 3’ will continue?

More: Original story: British paper ‘The Sun’ halts Page 3 Girls feature